Egg on one's face (orig. posted June 2002)

Posted by (Various posters--RB) on August 10, 2002

Posted by Masakim on June 27, 2002

In Reply to: Egg on my face posted by ESC on June 27, 2002

: : Does anyone know the origin or history of the phrase, "egg on my / your / his / her face"? I know it means that the person with the egg on his face is embarassed for whatever reason.

: From the archives:

: The only reference I could find is in "Random House Dictionary of American Slang, Vol. 1, A-G" by J.E. Lighter (Random House, New York, 1994): "have egg on (one's) face -- to look foolish or be embarrassed. Now colloq. 1951-53 'Front Page Detective (syndic. TV series): I can see egg all over my face..."

egg on one's face, have Look foolish or be embarrassed, as in "If you ask any more personal questions, you'll end up with egg on your face". This expression possibly alludes to dissatisfied audiences pelting performers with raw eggs. [Colloquial; mid-1900s]
From The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer

Egg on your face
Meaning: To be embarrassed.
Example: Make sure you have your story straight, go public without the facts and you will have egg on your face.
Origin: From the embarrassment suffered if the yellow yolk is on ones lips or beard after eating a soft boiled egg in one of those egg cups, a favorite breakfast of the upper crust... Yellow egg shows up especially well on a beard or mustache.
Thanks to John Gold
From Origin of Phrases: Chapter 9 - Obvious at
members.aol.com/ MorelandC/Phrases.htm